High energy golf club

ABSTRACT

A GOLF CLUB HEAD HAS A FACE PLATE INCORPORATED IN ITS STRIKING FACE. RIGIDLY SECURED TO THE FACE PLATE IS A ROD THAT EXTENDS TOWARDS THE CLUB REARWARD WALL. THE PLATE AND ROD ARE CONSTRUCTED FROM METAL CHARACTERIZED BY A HIGH MODULUS OF ELASTICITY SO THAT UPON IMPACT WITH A GOLF BALL LESS DEFORMATION IS EXPERIENCED BY THE CLUB HEAD. AS A CONSEQUENCE, ENERGY THAT OTHER WOULD BE ABSORBED BY THE CLUB HEAD AND THEREBY WASTED BECOMES AVAILABLE FOR TRANSMISSION TO THE GOLF BALL IN ORDER TO STROKE IT THROUGH LONGER DISTANCES.

March 2, 1971 v .N,. YN 3,567,228

HIGH ENERGY GOLF CLUB Filed 001;. 9, 1968 METAL HAVING A MODULUS OF ELASTICITY 0 T LEAST 8 IO 20 ION Ax gg gg zzj i/j [l3 /NVENTOR- JOHN NORD LYNN ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent O 3,567,228 HIGH ENERGY GOLF CLUB John Nord Lynn, 4624 Gable Drive, Encino, Calif. 91316 Filed Oct. 9, 1968, Ser. No. 766,059 Int. Cl. A63b 53/08 US Cl. 273-169 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A golf club head has a face plate incorporated in its striking face. Rigidly secured to the face plate is a rod that extends towards the club rearward wall. The plate and rod are constructed from metal characterized by a high modulus of elasticity so that upon impact with a golf ball less deformation is experienced by the club head. As a consequence, energy that other would be absorbed by the club head and thereby wasted becomes available for transmission to the golf ball in order to stroke it through longer distances.

The present invention relates to golf clubs of the wood type and more specifically to a golf club striking face and weight distribution arrangement for increasing the capacity of the golf club to hit a golf ball over greater distances and with improved accuracies.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Face plates that are frequently incorporated in the striking faces of conventional wooden club heads are generally constructed from plastic, wood, brass and other materials that have a relatively low modulus of elasticity. Because face plates constructed of these materials become so severely deformed and disfigured, although only temporarily, during their impact with a golf ball considerable energy must be absorbed by the club head. Therefore this energy is lost and becomes unavailable for transmission to the golf ball. Inasmuch as it is highly desirable in the sport of golf to impart as much kinetic energy and initial velocity to the golf ball as possible, this disadvantage should be overcome.

Additional losses of energy that otherwise could be transferred to the ball during impact arise in the case of golf head constructions that incorporate weighted masses which are isolated or separated from the face plate. The energy of the weighted mass cannot be efficiently transmitted through the head to the face plate without suffering substantial losses. The losses result in part because the intermediate sections of the wooden club head serve as poor energy conductors.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly described, the present invention comprehends a high energy golf club of the wood type for propelling a golf ball through longer distances than can be attained by related golf clubs of similar size and weight. The striking face of the wooden head is formed with a recess sized to receive a face plate. The face plate is constructed from a metal having a modulus of elasticity of at least 28,000,000 lbs/sq. in. in order to impart increased kinetic energy and initial velocity to a golf ball. Rigidly connected to the back side of the face plate and extending towards the rear wall of the wooden head is a rod which preferably is also constructed from a metal having a modulus of elasticity of at least 28,000,000 lbs/sq. in. The rod is positioned to assist in imparting kinetic energy to the golf ball and to minimize club head twisting tendencies during misaligned contacts between the club striking face and golf ball.

By constructing the face plate and rod from metal having a high modulus of elasticity then only minimal deformation is experienced by the face plate during impact with a ball and therefore a corresponding less quantity of energy is absorbed by the head. The energy thus conserved can then be applied to the golf ball in order to hit the ball farther.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The numerous benefits and unique aspects of the present invention will be fully understood when the following detailed description is studied in conjunction with the drawings is which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective partially exploded view showing the face plate and a complementary recess formed in the golf head striking face;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, showing the club head fully assembled;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational sectional view similar to that of FIG. 2, showing an alternative club head embodiment; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevational sectional view similar to that of FIG. 2, showing another club head embodiment distinguished from those of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. 1, a golf club 10 which may be a driver for example, is illustrated. Club 10 has a wooden club head 11 formed with a typical hosel or shank 12 shaped for connection to a golf club shaft (not shown). Club head 11 has a striking face 13, a rear wall 14, and an undercut zone or recess 15 formed in the central portion of striking face 13.

A metallic face plate 16 having a high modulus of elasticity is shown exploded away from recess 15. Face plate 16 has a front side 17 and back side 18 and is of general trapezoidal shape so that it may be snugly fit within recess 15. Recess 15 and face plate 16 are of complementary configuration so that when face plate -16 is firmly bonded or adhered to the walls defining recess 15 with a suitable epoxy. for example, front side 17 will be arranged in flush alignment with wing or flank sections 19 and 20 of striking face 13. The depth X of recess 15 and width Y of face plate 16 are substantially equivalent.

When face plate 16 is securely arranged within recess 15, back side 18 is rigidly fixed to a metallic rod 21 (the majority of which is shown in dotted lines) which in turn is coupled to a connector (shown in dotted lines).

FIG. 2 depicts the important structural relationship between face plate 16, rod 23 and connector 22. Forward rod end 23 is welded or otherwise rigidly fixed to back side 18 and rod 21 is aligned perpendicular relative to the face plate front side 17. Rearward rod end 24 terminates adjacent club head rear wall 14. In this embodiment of the present invention, the diameter D of rod 21 is constant from rod end 23 to rod end 24 and is approximately one-third the distance between the top and bottom edges of plate 16. The length L of rod 21 is larger than one-half the distance between face plate 16 and rear wall 14 to achieve a suitable weight distribution. Club head has an internally threaded bore and rod 21 is similarly formed with an internally threaded bore 26 so that connector 22, which is preferably an elongated screw, can be securely coupled to rod 21 in order to stabilize rod 21 and prevent it from becoming loose during the numerous impacts between club head 11 and a golf ball.

The amount of potential and kinetic energy transmitted from a club head to a golf ball during impact depends to a significant extent upon the degree of club head deformation. Temporary disfigurement or deformation of the golf club head as the ball is being struck is directly proportional to the quantity of energy lost within the club head that otherwise could be applied to the ball. Club head energy thus wasted or dissipated constitutes a sharp drawback in the golfers efforts to stroke the ball as far as possible. A chief aspect of the present invention is to enable a golfer to overcome this prior art handicap.

In accordance with the present invention, when impact occurs between club head 11 and a golf ball the deflection or deformation experienced by face plate 16 and club head 11 in general is greatly minimized, as compared with conventional golf club heads, so that energy that otherwise would be absorbed by the club head and therefore wasted becomes available for transmission to the golf ball in order to permit the golfer to hit the golf ball over longer distances. The deformation of face plate 16 is diminished by constructing it from a metal characterized by a high modulus of elasticity. Some typical metals that could be satisfactorily employed are stainless steel with a modulus of elasticity of approximately 28,000,000 lbs/sq. in., and other metals with greater moduli of elasticities such as Inconel X, Inconel 718, 4130 chrome alloy structural steel, and, tungsten carbide. When constructed of metals such as these, face plate 16 will experience only nominal strain or deformation during impact with a golf ball as compared with conventional face plates incorporated in presently used golf clubs. As previously mentioned, by minimizing deflection less energy is capable of being absorbed and thereby wasted within club head 11 and therefore additional energy can be applied to the golf ball during impact.

Rod 21 is rigidly connected to plate 16 by welding for example, or may be integrally formed with plate 16 and is preferably constructed from the same metal that face plate 16 is constructed from. The particular weight of rod 21 may be regulated to achieve the proper balance or feel compatible with a particular golfers style and strength. The weight of rod 21 permits greater momentum and kinetic energy to be delivered to the golf ball.

Although rod 21 could be slightly sloped or angled, it is preferably oriented perpendicular relative to front side 17 of face plate 16. This arrangement provides a direct path for the transmission of energy in rod 21 to face plate 16 without passing through interfaces or interrupted zones. When energy stored in a weighted mass must pass through two or more interfaces; e.g., the boundary layer between an isolated or separated weighted mass and the club head wooden material and then the boundary layer between the club head wooden material and striking face, additional energy is lost in strain and deformation. This conventional prior art mode of transmitting energy is very inefficient. If rod 21 were slightly inclined then a component of force; i.e., the vertical component of force, would be wasted and over an extensive period of use, face plate 16 would tend to become loose and slide along the plane of striking face 13. Connector 22 serves to stabilize rod 21 and prevent it f om Working loose during repetitive impacts between club head 11 and a golf ball. The mass and alignment of rod 21 also serves to countervail or overcome the tendency of club head 11 to twist or torque severely when striking face 13 meets the golf ball in an off-center or misaligned contact.

FIG. 3 discloses an alternative embodiment wherein a forward segment 27 of rod 21 has a relatively small diameter D and a rearward segment 28 has a larger diameter D The overall weight of step-shaped rod 21 may be equivalent to the rod of the FIG. 3 embodiment and diameters D and D may be larger and smaller than diameter D, respectively. In the FIG. 3 embodiment, extra weight is shifted rearwardly toward rear wall 14 to achieve a club balance that may be more suitable for a particular golfer. Segment 27 is surrounded by a hollow annular space 29 which, if desired, could be filled with lightweight material. Rather than being of constant diameter or of stepped shape as illustrated in the FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 cmbodiments respectively, rod 21 could be of dumbell shape or any other suitable geometry.

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of golf club 10 wherein rod 21 has a constant outer diameter D from forward end 23 to rearward end 24. A forward segment 30 of rod 21 is tubularized to define a hollow space 31.

v The tubular segment inner diameter or hollow space diameter D is dimensioned so that the overall weight of rod 21 is properly distributed. Hollow space 31 is drilled or bored from rod 21 before rod end 23 is welded to back side 18 of face plate 16. The mass per lineal distance of segment 32 exceeds that of forward segment 30. The tubularized forward segment of the FIG. 4 embodiment offers greater resistance to bending loads than the reduced diameter forward segment of the FIG. 3 embodiment.

OPERATION Keeping the above constructions in mind, it can be understood how many of the previously described disadvantages of prior art golf club heads of the wooden type are overcome or substantially eliminated by the present invention.

As the golfer swings club 10 from a poised or set backswing position to a location adjacent the golf ball, club head 11 develops kinetic energy and a lesser measure of potential energy. A greater percentage of this energy is made available for transmission to the golf ball upon impact because face plate 16 is characterized by a high modulus of elasticity and therefore will experience only nominal deformation upon impact. As a result, less energy is absorbed and therefore wasted by face plate 16 and other components of club head 11. Upon impact, the momentum and energy of rod 21 is transmitted directly to face plate 16 to permit the ball to be stroked a greater distance than would be possible if rod 21 were absent.

From the foregoing it will be evident that the present invention has provided a high energy golf club in which all of the various advantages are fully realized.

I claim:

1. A high energy golf club comprising:

(a) a wooden head having a rear wall and a striking face formed with a recess;

(b) a face plate having front and back sides and inserted in the recess;

(c) a rod of constant outer diameter rigidly connected to the back side of the face plate and extending slightly greater than one half the distance between the face plate and wooden head rear wall, said rod being aligned perpendicular relative to the front side of the face plate to impart increased kinetic energy to the golf ball;

(d) said rod having a forward rod segment and a rearward rod segment, said forward rod segment having a hollow space extending from the end of the forward rod segment adjacent the back side of said face plate to substantially one half the extent of said rod, thereby distributing the weight of said rod properly within said head and further to provide resistance to bending loads during impact with a galf ball, said rearward rod segment being solid so that the mass per lineal distance of the rearward segment exceeds that of the forward segment for the purpose of mini mizing club head twisting tendencies during misaligned contacts between the striking face and golf ball;

(e) a connector secured to the wooden head rear wall, the connector being securely coupled to a portion of said rearward rod segment to stabilize the rod and restrain it from becoming loose, and

(f) wherein the face plate and rod are both constructed from metal having a modulus of elasticity of at least 28,000,000 lbs/sq. in. in order to minimize head deformation during its impact with a golf ball and impart increased kinetic energy and initial velocity to the golf ball.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1918 Fitzjohn et a1. 273173 4/ 1922 Kraeuter 273--173 11/1922 Mattern 273-173 2/19'23 Willmott 273-173X 9/1923 Kinnear 273-173X 12/1925 Dahlman 273-173X 4/1944 Schafier 273l73X FOREIGN PATENTS 12/1926 Great Britain 273-77 2/1967 Great Britain 273170 U.S. C1. X.R. 

